Woman sues over 'childhood rape'
29 July 2010, 11:07
By Fatima Schroeder
High Court Writer
She was 11 years old when she first met him and had her first sexual encounter with him shortly before her 15th birthday.
He was married and 19 years her senior. Their encounters, which happened in the Western Cape and Johannesburg continued until 2003.
Today, at the age of 30, a Knysna woman believes that the man she thought she once loved caused her tremendous mental and emotional anguish.
She is suing him for R3.47 million in damages in the South Gauteng High Court, claiming that the relationship significantly impaired her psyche and personality, and affected her ability to function as a person.
According to her, she became dependant on him and only realised the effects the relationship had on her in 2006.
The action was instituted in 2007.
And, while the man admits that the pair were involved in a relationship, he claims that it started when she was 17 and that she was the one who had seduced him.
Next week they will face each other in court when the matter is finally heard.
This breaking news flash was supplied exclusively to iol.co.za by the news desk at our sister title, the Cape Argus.
For more about this story, carry on watching iol.co.za or click here to subscribe to the digital or print edition of the newspaper.
High Court Writer
She was 11 years old when she first met him and had her first sexual encounter with him shortly before her 15th birthday.
He was married and 19 years her senior. Their encounters, which happened in the Western Cape and Johannesburg continued until 2003.
Today, at the age of 30, a Knysna woman believes that the man she thought she once loved caused her tremendous mental and emotional anguish.
She is suing him for R3.47 million in damages in the South Gauteng High Court, claiming that the relationship significantly impaired her psyche and personality, and affected her ability to function as a person.
According to her, she became dependant on him and only realised the effects the relationship had on her in 2006.
The action was instituted in 2007.
And, while the man admits that the pair were involved in a relationship, he claims that it started when she was 17 and that she was the one who had seduced him.
Next week they will face each other in court when the matter is finally heard.
This breaking news flash was supplied exclusively to iol.co.za by the news desk at our sister title, the Cape Argus.
For more about this story, carry on watching iol.co.za or click here to subscribe to the digital or print edition of the newspaper.
